Portable knockdown floor.



A. B. ELDHED.

PORTABLE KNOCKDOWN FLOOR.

APPLICATION r1150 MAR. 19. 1915.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor Ar fl. 20.6

Witnesses Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH e01, WASHINGTON, D1 c.

A. B. ELDRED.

PORTABLE KNOCKDOWN FLOOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented N W. 16

Witnesses Inventor Attrnys COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wAsmNc'roN. n. c,

ARTHUR B. ELDRED, OF PAOLA, KANSAS.

PORTABLE KNOCKDOWN rLooR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR BVELDRED, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paola, in the county of Miami, and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Portable Knockdown Floor, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a portable knockdown floor, and aimsto pro-.,

It is the object of the invention to provide a portable knockdown floorwhich may be' readily and effectively set up or assembled to provide afirm or solid floor or base, which may be used as a skating rink floor,dancing hall floor, and the like, and which floor may be knocked down sothat the parts thereof may be readily transported or stored away withinsmall encompass.

The present floor constructionis adapted especially'for use in amusementparks, fairs, and the like,-to enable the structure to be knocked downand shipped readily from place to place, and to enable the parts to bereadily assembled in a thoroughly practical and eflicient manner toprovide a firm fioor.

As a more specific object, the invention contemplates the provision in astructure of the nature indicated, of unique means for securing theseveral parts together, whereby they will be held assembled in a mostsubstantial' manner, to resist the strains to which the floor issubjected in use, and without the liability of any of the parts becomingdisplaced or loosened. It is also within the scope of the'invention toprovide a portable knockdown floor having the features above noted, andwhich is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, as wellas being convenient, serviceable and practical in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the lnvention resides in thecombination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter .de

scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can bemade Patented Nov.16,1915.

Application filed. March 19, 1915. Serial No. 15,552.

within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

The invention-is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein vFigure 1 is a plan view of the floor structure, portions being brokenaway. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 22 ofFig. 1, portions being broken away. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transversesection taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4: and 5 are sectionaldetails taken on the lines 44 and 55, respectively, of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a longitudinal seriesof transverse joists l and 2, which'are disposed in alternatearrangement, and the'joists of each set arearranged inpairs; The pairsof joists land 2 are spaced apart at suitable distances, and areparallel with one another. The joists extend to the sides of the floorstructure, and are divided intermediate or midway between their ends, toprovide the side sections 3. The outer or remote ends of the sections 3are seated upon longitudinal side sills 4, and the inner or adjacentends of the jois sections 3 are seated upon a central or intermediatelongitudinal sill 5. Other longitudinal sills 6' may be disposed betweenthe sills 4 and 5 for supporting the intermediate portions of thesections 3. These sills 4L, 5 and 6 may be placed upon the ground orother base, for supporting the floor, and the sills may be constructedin sections so that the sill sections can be handled readily.- A tenon 7is secured between the inner ends of the joist members of one section 3of each pair of joists,.and is adapted to project between the inner endsof the joist members of the corresponding section 3, for holding thejoist sections 3 in alinement. It is evident that when the sections 3 ofeach joist are assembled, the tenon 7 of one joist section is slipped orinserted into the inner end of the corresponding section 3, which willhold the joist arrangement. The ends of the floor sections 8 abut overand rest upon the joists 2, and the ends of the sections 9 abut over andrest upon the joists 1. These floor sections 8 and 9 may be constructedof boards secured together in any suitable manner.

The central or intermediate row'of floor sections 8 which lie above orrest upon the adjacent or meeting ends of the joist sections 3, areprovided with lower longitudinal cleats 10 which are seated within uppernotches 11 provided in the jointsections adjacent the inner or meetingends of the joist sections, whereby the cleats 10 of the sections 8 inengaging or seating within the notchesll will assist in holdingthe joistsections assembled, to prevent their separation until the central orintermediate floor sections 8 are raised or moved.

Mounted or seated upon the outer or remote end portions of the joistsections 3, are upstanding supports 12, which are provided withdepending strips or portions 13 over lapping the joist sections 3, tohold the supports 12 slidably upon the joist sections, and to preventthe supports 12*from shifting longitudinally relative to the entirestruc ture. Secured in any suitable manner upon the supports 12'are seatboards or sections 14: and foot rests or aisles boards or sections 15.The seat boards or sections 14 are disposed at a higher level than theboards or sections 15, and the boards or sections 15 are disposedinwardly relative to the seat boards or sections 14. The boards'orsections 14 provide seats for the spectators or onlookers, and theboards or sections 15 provide foot rests for the spectators, and alsoprovide aisles extending longitudinally of the structure between thelongitudinal seats and the floor proper provided by the sections 8 and9.

Upstanding railing posts '16 have their. lower ends inserted between thejoist members of the sections 3 between the supports 12 and the remoteor side floor sections 8, and cables or other members 17 may bestretched between the posts 16 at the opposite sides of the floor properto divide off the spectators from the persons occupying the floorproper. The boards or sections 15 are raised above the floor proper, andkick boards 18 are set on edge upon the joist sections 3 between theremote or outer floor sections 8 and the posts 16, and will serve todefine the sides of the floor proper. The kick boards 18 extendlongitudinally of the structure, as will be apparent.

Means are provided for securely fastening the, several parts upon thejoists, and'for holding the joist sections together, the said meansbelng assoclated with the joists 1 and 2. The securlng or fasteningmeans of each 7 pair of joists 1 embodies a pair of cables 19 assembledwith the respective joist sections 3 and arranged between theipair ofjoists.

These cables 19 are passed over pulleys or other guides 20 carried bythe lower surfaces of the floor sections 8, and the cables 19 are passedunder pulleys or guides 21 carried between the joist members of thesections 3 between the fioor sections 8. The central or intermediatefloor section 8 is provided with pulleys or guides 22 at the oppositesides of the adjacent or meeting ends of the joist sections, and overwhich the cables 19 are passed. The inner or adjacent end portions ofthe cables 19 arecrossed and extend to the opposite joist sections. Theinner end of each cable is provided with a hook 23 engaged toone of aseries of rods 24: secured between the joist members of the oppositesection 3. The hooks 23 beingen- .gageable with the series of rods 21,provides adjustable means tor engaging the inner'ends of the cables 19to the opposite joist sections. the cables 19 are passed under pulleysor The outer or remote end portions of guides 25 carried between thejoist members of the sections 3 below the supports 12 or adjacent theouter or remote ends of the joist sections, and the outer or remote endsof the cables 19 are attached to rods 26 which are slidable throughsuitable guides or bearings 27 carried by the respective supports 12.Nuts 28 are threaded upon the rods 26 and bear against the bearings27.

The securing or attaching means of each pair of joists 2 is similar tothe securing means of the joists 1, but there are slight differencesbetween the two sets of securing means. Thus, the securing means of eachpair of joists 2 embodies a pair of cables 29 associated with therespective joist sections 3, and passed over pulleys 0r guides 30carried by the lower surfaces of the floor sections 9 and under pulleysor guides 31 carried between the joist members of the respectivesections 3 between the floor sections 9. The inner end portions of thecables 29 are crossed and extended to the opposite joist sections 3 andthe inner ends ofthe cables 29 are provided with hooks 32 engageable'with a series of rods or members33 carried 7 by the respective joistsections 3, the same as with the securing means of the joists 1. Theremote or outer end port-ions of the cables 29 are passed under pulleysor guides 31 carried by the respective joist sections 3 sections 8 and9, supports 12, railing posts 16' and kick boards 18 are thenplaced'properly upon the joists, and'at the same'time, the cables 19.and 29 are assembled with the partsin the proper manner. The hooks 23and 32 will be engageable with the series of rods or attaching elements24 to provide for a quick adjustment, as will beapparent, and

1 after the parts have been assembledas above spective cables beingrendered taut, will pull,

the joist sections 3 tightly into abutment with one another, andfurthermore the supports 12 will be moved inwardly. This will.

clamp the floor sections 8 and 9 together for providing a smooth floorsurface, and the railing posts 16 and kick boards 18 will also beclamped between the supports 12 and remote or side fioor sectionsS tohold the said posts and kick boards in position. The cables being passedover the pulleys or guides of the joists and floor sections in themanner above indicated, will be disposed in a zig-zag arrangement, andwhen the cables are tightened, they will tend to straighten out, so asto securely clamp the floor sections upon the joists. As a result of thepeculiar means of securing or attaching the various parts together, theparts will be held firmly in place, and will not be liable to becomedisplaced 0r loosened even though the structure is subjected toconsiderable weight or strains. means are employed for attaching theparts upon the joists, and the securing means of the present device arecomparatively simple, and are most expedient and eiiicient in use.

It will be understood that the structure may be made in various sizesand attention is also directed to the fact that the cables beingtightened will clamp the supports 12 upon the joists as well as movingthe sup ports 12 inwardly to clamp the floor sections, railing posts andkick boards in place. It is thus impossible for any of the parts uponthe joists to be raised accidentally, and the cables serve to both holdthe parts upon the joists, and to clamp them together, and furthermore,to clamp the joist sections together. hen the cables are loosened ordetached, the parts of the structure may be readily separated, so thatthe structure may be transported readily, or stored within a smallencompass.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it isbelieved that the advantages, attributes and capabilities of the presentinvention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, without furthercomment being necessary. The present structure pro- No bolts or similarsecuring vides a desirable and eflicient portable knockdown floor foruse in skating rinks, dance halls, and the like.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the pulleys or guidemembers of the floor sections are carried by the intermediate portionsof the floor sections, whereby the intermediate portions of therespective floor sections will be drawn downwardly tightly upon thejoists, and whereby. the end portions of the floor sections of thealternate rows will be clamped between the intermediate portions of thefloor sections of the adjacent rows, in order that the ends of the floorsections will be properly clamped in place. It is also to be noted thatthe cables 19 being attached at their inner ends to the opposite joistsections, will prevent the floor sections and seat supports fromshifting, as

and means connecting the floor sections with- .one another and with thejoist and so arranged, that a singleadjustment is transmitted, tosimultaneously draw the floor sections together and down tightly uponthe joist.

2. In a knockdown floor structure, a joist comprising abutting sections,a series of floor sections upon the joist, and means connecting thefloor sections with one another and with the joist sections, and soarranged, that a single adjustment is transmitted, to simultaneouslydraw the floor sections together, and down tightly upon the joistsections, and the joist sections into close abutment.

3. In a knockdown floor structure, joists, floor sections thereon, guidemembers carried by the joists and floor sections, cables passed over andunder the respective guide members of the floor sections and joists, andmeans for stretching the cables.

4L. In a knockdown floor structure, joists I each comprising a pair ofabutting sections, floor sections upon the joists, guide members carriedby the floor sections and joists, a pair of cables associated with thesections of each joist and passed over and under the respective guidemembers of the floor secupon the joists. r

6. In a knockdown floor structure, parallel joists, elements slidablymounted upon the remote portions thereof, floor sections upon.

the joists between said elements, and means operatlvely connect ng saldelements and floor sectlons With one another and With the joists, andoperable for drawing said elements together to clamp the floor sectionstogether and at the same time hold the floor sections and said elementstightly upon the joists. V

7. In a knockdown floor structure, jolsts, rows of floor sectionsthereon, the floor sections of the res ective rows bein in sta' geredarrangement and the ends of the floor sections of the alternate rowsresting upon 1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Gommissionerof Patents,-

alternate joists, the joists and intermediate portionsof the floorsections having guide members, cables passed overand under the arespective guide members of the floor sections and joists, and means forstretching" the cables. I r a 8. In a knockdown floor structure, joists,

elements slidable upon the remote portions of the joists, floor sectionsseated upon the joists between said elements, guide members carried bythe floor sections and joists, cables passed over and under the guidemembers of the floor sections and joists re- ,ARTHUR B. ELDRED.

Vitnesses:

V. B. FoRDYoE,

MELVAI-i: DOGENETT. 7

Washington, D. 0.

